Inkjet Inspiration: Creating Greeting Cards with Your Printer

This is the time of year when people get worked up into a frenzy over gifts, decorations and, of course, greeting cards. While many people take on the herculean task of making gifts from scratch for everyone they know, fewer and fewer people are taking on the task of making their own greeting cards. But, it’s not that hard to do.

Here’s how to get it done.

Stock Up On Ink

One of the drawbacks of doing your own greeting cards is the sheer amount of ink you will use. And, honestly, it’s what stops most people. But, if you stock up on ink through a discount supplier, like the Stinky Ink Shop, the cost isn’t that bad.

Create A Custom Paper Size

Use pre-scored inkjet notecards, and define a custom paper size in your printer settings. Canon, HP, and Epson printers all have this feature. Just make sure you’re orienting the paper properly before you print. All printers let you change how your cards will be printed through either “user defined” print settings or “custom” settings.

Use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements

You should use either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. They are your best option for making your own greeting cards. These programs let you do a professional job, and give you amazing flexibility Elements is much more affordable than the photoshop program, however, and offers you everything you need to make great greeting cards.

Print The Inside Of Your Card

Print the inside of the card first. Why? Because the inside likely will be using less ink than the outside. And, if you’re printing photos on the outside of the card, you don’t want to run that photo through twice – there’s an increased risk of it scratching.

If the inside gets just a little smudged or there are some scratches, it’ll be less noticeable.

Decide How You Want Your Photos Printed

Not all cardstock is designed for photo printing. And, even when it is, it’s not always possible to get great photos on both sides. So, figure out what kind of greeting cards you want, how you want them printed, and how much ink you’ll need to use before you start printing.

If you intend to print on both sides, you need double-sided, 2-sided, or C2S cardstock. Go for a heavy weight, more than 80lbs if your printer can handle it. Choose brightness of 90 or above. A 98 percent brightness will make your photos “pop.”

Match Envelopes To Your Cards

Make sure you can match your envelopes to the cardstock before you get all your supplied. You should buy the cardstock and envelopes together, and do a test run of one or two sheets. When you’re satisfied, get your envelopes – keep in mind the additional weight of the cardstock may affect postage rates.

If you have an 8.5” x 5.5” card, you’ll need an “A-2” size envelope. This is on the smaller size. For 9″ x 6.25″, you’ll want A-6 sized envelopes, and for 7″ x 10″, you’ll want A-7. A card size of 8″ x 9″ would require a standard #10 envelope.

John Sollars started his company in 2002 and has watched the printing industry evolve over time. With a passion for writing and for helping people, he likes to share what he has learned over the years. Look for his illuminating posts on many websites and blogs.

I am Heather Brummett . I'm just a real mom, sharing my real life experiences with the world. Thank you for being a part of my world. Here you will find recipes, crafts, fun ideas for the kids, how to work at home, encouragement, inspiration, and the latest news in and around Houston. To be featured or for information on freelance work contact me at inspiringmommablog@gmail.com.

About Us

I am Heather Brummett. I'm a just a real mom, sharing my real life experiences with the world. My husband, Joel, also shares on this blog. Thank you for being a part of our world. Here you will find recipes, crafts, fun ideas for the kids, how to work at home, encouragement, inspiration, and the latest news in and around Houston. To be featured or for information on freelance work contact us at inspiringmommablog@gmail.com. Now grab a cup of coffee and make yourself at home! Welcome to our world!